Constructing a new language from a marxist perspective for social
sciences in the 21
stcentury: a proposal
Fuat Ercan
∗Güven Selçuk
∗Senem Sönmez Selçuk
∗Abstract
As it has been widely argued, 20
thcentury Marxism – especially in the second half of the
century- was relatively more focused on “symbolic re-production” contrary to the thinkers such
as Lenin, Hilferding or Luxemburg who emphasized the “material re-production”. There has
been a general tendency to concentrate more on the areas such as aesthetics and culture rather
than political economy and infrastructural analysis. It can be said that material re-production was
subordinated by symbolic re-production. But on the other hand, the opposite is also present; the
subordination of symbolic re-production to material re-production is in sight especially in the
field of economics (in one Marxist variant to another). This fragmentation comes with the
intensive division of social sciences - either Marxist or not - and depicts a true “schizophrenic”
disciplinary look which results in over-specialization (for example; economics mainly focusing
on material re-production, political science mainly focusing on re-production of power and
cultural studies focusing on symbolic re-production while they are making a contribution to the
re-production of knowledge by their own manner).
What makes Marx’s “Capital” important; is not only its explanatory content of the
moment, but more than that, its methodological guidance – in an epistemological sense - for
analysing the social phenomenon. Marx’s epistemology in “Capital”, is both holistic by taking
the social phenomenon in the context of relations in which it is located in, is historical by taking
the facts with their changing dynamics in time, and is also critical by indicating the relations of
power. This paper suggests going back to the basic epistemological roots - which are embedded
in “Capital” - for an entire understanding in analysing the social phenomenon. By doing so it
seeks a new language between the spheres of material and symbolic production and the
re-production of power and knowledge from a Marxist perspective. The final objective of the study
Prof. Dr., Department of Economics, Marmara University, İstanbul
∗ Lecturer, Department of Communication and Public Relations, Yaşar University, İzmir
is to constitute a conceptual framework for an alternative / critical analysis for social sciences in
the 21
stCentury.
FUAT ERCAN
Current Academic Situation:
Prof. Dr., Department of Economics, Marmara University, İstanbul
Books:
Money and Capitalism, 2005 (in Turkish)
Modernism Capitalism and Underdevelopment, 2001 (in Turkish)
Societies and Economies, 2001 (in Turkish)
Education and Capitalism, 1998 (in Turkish)
Articles:
GÜVEN SELÇUK
PERMANENT ADDRESS: UNIVERSITY ADDRESS:
159 Sokak No: 11 Daire: 7 Bornova İzmir TURKEY
Yaşar University Şehitler Cad. 1522 Sok. No: 6 Alsancak İzmir TURKEY www.yasar.edu.tr
Tel: +90 232 388 00 69 Tel: +90 232 461 41 11 / 327
Mobile: +90 532 592 20 68 Fax: +90 232 461 41 22
+90 232 463 07 80 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]
PERSONAL INFO RMATION
Nationality: Republic of Turkey
Place & Date of Birth: İzmir/ 23.10.1977 Marital Status: Married
EDUCATION
2004-…. / PhD - Ege University, Institute of Social Sciences, Radio-Television-Cinema
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Konca YUMLU
Dissertation Title: Television’s Position In Leisure Time Activities
2001-2004/ M.Sc - Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Social Sciences, Public Administration
(Political and Social Sciences)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tülay ÖZÜERMAN
Dissertation Title: The Politic – Economic Transformation of Capitalism at the End of 20. Century and the Popular Culture
1997-2001/ B.Sc - Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences,
Public Administration
1989-1996/ İzmir Özel Türk College
2005- …. / Lecturer: Yaşar University, Department of Communication and Public Relations
2005- 2005/ Research Assistant: Yaşar University, Faculty of Communication, Department of Public
Relations and Advertising ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS
2005 - …. / Yaşar University, Department of Communication and Public Relations, Program Coordinator
2005 - …. / Yaşar University, Membership in the Internship Commission
2005 - …. / Yaşar University, Faculty of Communication, Erasmus Coordinator BOOK CHAPTERS
Selçuk, Güven: “Emek Gücünün ve Üretim İlişkilerinin Yeniden-Üretimi Bağlamında Eğitimin ve Bilimin İdeolojik İşlevleri” (Ideological Functions of Education and Science in the Context of
Re-production of Labour Power and Relations of Production), Bilim ve İktidar, Dipnot Yayınları (will be published in 2008).
INTERNATIONAL PRO CEEDINGS
Hanssen, Graeme; Selçuk, Güven: “The Importance of Focusing on E-commerce in Tertiary
Institutions”, Eastern Mediterranean University, The 6th International Educational Technology
Conference, April 2006.
NATIONAL PRO CEEDINGS
Selçuk, Senem Sönmez; Selçuk, Güven: “Resmi Türk Kimliğinin İnşası Bağlamında Kimlik Krizleri
ve Türkiye’de Vatandaşlık Bilmecesi” (Identity Crises and Citizenship Enigma in Turkey in the
Context of Constructing Formal Turkish Identity), Türk Sosyal Bilimler Derneği, 10. Social Sciences Congress, ODTÜ Kongre ve Kültür Merkezi, Ankara, 28-30 November 2007.
Selçuk, Güven: “Emek Gücünün ve Üretim İlişkilerinin Yeniden-Üretimi Bağlamında Eğitimin ve
Bilimin İdeolojik İşlevleri” (Ideological Functions of Education and Science in the Context of
Re-production of Labour Power and Relations of Production), Karaburun Science Congress, 8-10 September 2006.
available at: http://www.kongrekaraburun.org/ozetler/A2_3.pdf
Selçuk, Güven: / “Popüler Kültür Kavramındaki Anlam Kayması ve ‘Egemen Popüler Kültür’ün
Postmodern Karakteri” (The Semantic Transformation in the Concept of Popular Culture and the
Postmodern Character of ‘Dominant Popular Culture’) , Anadolu University Faculty of Communication Sciences, II. National Communication Students Symposium, 17-18 November 2005.
available at: http://www.iletsem.anadolu.edu.tr/bildiriler/pdf/14.pdf NEWSPAPE R COLUMNS
Selçuk, Güven: “Zehirli Havuç” (Poisonous Carrot), Radikal Newspaper, “Radikal İki” Sunday Supplement, 09 October 2005
available at: http://www.radikal.com.tr/ek_haber.php?ek=r2&haberno=5147 INVITED PARTICIPATIONS
Discussant: “Education and Structural Transformation in Vocational Education” (closed session), 40th year activities of DİSK, 16 June 2007.
SENEM SÖNMEZ SELÇUK
Permanent Adress: Bahriye Üçok Bulvarı
Gültekin Apt. No: 11/ Karşıyaka/ İZMİR
Tel: +90 232 369 47 63
Mobile: +90 533 258 38 47
e-mail: [email protected]
PERSONAL INFO RMATION
Nationality: Turkish Republic
Place & Date of Birth: İzmir/ 17. 01.1979 Marital Status: Married
EDUCATION
2004-…../ PhD - Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Social Sciences, Public Administration
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tülay ÖZÜERMAN
Dissertation Title: The Minority Concept from Lausanne Conference Till Now in the Light of the Debates on Global Transformation and Identity
2001-2004/ M.Sc - Dokuz Eylül University, Institute of Social Sciences, Public Administration
(Political and Social Sciences)
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Tülay ÖZÜERMAN
Dissertation Title: The Effects of the Political Culture to the Political Participation in Turkey
1997-2001/ B.Sc - Dokuz Eylül University, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences,
Public Administration
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
09.2003-…/ Karşıyaka - Kampüs Açıköğretim Dershanesi
Lessons : Political Science Turkish Political Life Introduction to Law Social Security Law Administration Law Constitution Law
Atatürk's Principles & History of Turkish Reforms NATIONAL PRO CEEDINGS
Selçuk, Senem Sönmez; Selçuk, Güven: “Resmi Türk Kimliğinin İnşası Bağlamında Kimlik Krizleri
ve Türkiye’de Vatandaşlık Bilmecesi” (Identity Crises and Citizenship Enigma in Turkey in the
Context of Constructing Formal Turkish Identity), Türk Sosyal Bilimler Derneği, 10. Social Sciences Congress, ODTÜ Kongre ve Kültür Merkezi, Ankara, 28-30 November 2007.
